2 24 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the city. A large proportion of the area is probably suitable 

 for growing coniferous timber, and that this would be a profitable 

 course to adopt seems to be indicated by the fact that at 

 present probably only twenty families gain a livelihood from 

 the land. It is the firm conviction of Mr James Whitton, 

 Superintendent of Parks, Glasgow (on whose report this article 

 is largely based), that crofting, except to a very limited extent, 

 would be a failure. The problem is therefore the same as that 

 which exists over a large proportion of Scotland, that is, by 

 what method can land of this description be utilised so that an 

 increased number of persons may obtain a reasonable living 

 wage from the soil ? 



The land in the Eberswalde district of Germany may be com- 

 pared, in some respects, to the Ardgoil Estate, inasmuch as 

 only small areas here and there are of agricultural value. The 

 main distinction between the two is that the rainfall on the 

 Ardgoil Estate is sufficient to produce a soil-covering of rough 

 hill pasture even on the more barren portions, whereas at 

 Eberswalde the soil is porous and the rainfall small. The 

 woods on the Eberswalde district may be described as analogous 

 to the rough hill pasture in Scotland. 



It is a significant fact that while in Scotland the annual 

 rental of land capable of growing grass is, in the case of hill 

 pasture, often not more than a few pence per acre, in Germany 

 an annual sum of about ten shillings per acre is realised for a 

 planted area, most of which could not produce pasture. There 

 is some doubt as to the eff'ect of a possible influx of visitors on 

 the farms of the Ardgoil Estate, with the consequent disturbance 

 of stock. The official report draws attention to the fact that 

 "the afforestation ... of a considerable area of the estate, 

 merely to afford shelter, would enhance the value of the farms 

 as grazing subjects, and would be an advantage. There is, 

 however, the larger question of creating a source of revenue for 

 the future . . . by the planting of trees ^ 



That the estate is capable of growing most of the common 

 timber-trees, both hardwoods and conifers, is without question, 

 and there is reason to believe that in former times woods covered 

 a large portion of this estate. It is encouraging to find that a 

 considerable amount of planting is likely to be undertaken, 

 and that it will be done in a systematic manner. 



W. F. A. H. 



